Exercising device



July 19, 1949. I u wo I 2,476,518

EXERCISING DEVICE Filed April 29, 1946 2 Sheets-Shet 1 Rx under 00d .5

Afiorney- July 19, 1949. R. UNDERWOOD EXERCISING DEVICE 2 Shects-Sheet 2Filed April 29, 1946 r e 8 1m D 1U h A Rex Underwood Patented July 19,1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,476,518 axsnorsme DEVICE RexUnderwood, Eugene, Oreg. Application April 29, 1946, Serial No. 665,812

14 Claims.

My invention relates to the art of kinesitherapy and has for itsparticular object the provision of an exercising appliance for the useof the hands and fingers so as to develop stretch between the severalfingers and flexibility and muscular tone to the hands. My invention isparticularly adapted for the use of musicians, such for example, aspianists and violinists, but it has substantial value in the art ofphysical therapy and in athletics. In connection with the latter use itmight be said that my invention is particularly useful in developingflexibility and grip and spread of the hand and fingers, in the trainingof basketball, football and baseball players who must catch and throw.

To this end, my appliance comprises a base having a single large memberadapted for engagement by and support of the palm and base of the handand a plurality of trough-like finger glides diverging therefrom. Saidhand support and said finger glides are resiliently joined together andto said base. Guideways are provided so as gradually to cause saidfinger glides to diverge as said hand and finger supports are moved fromtheir initial point. The points of connection of the finger glides andthe hand support are made upon flexible joints and the Palm support isresiliently mounted so that it may move about said base and, thus, theparts are adapted to accommodate themselves to the stretch and tensioninduced in the hands and fingers of the user thereof rather than toforce said fingers and the hand into unnatural and distorted positions.

The principal object of my invention is to provide an appliance of thischaracter which will promote stretch of the fingers and yet to supportthe remainder of the hand in a comfortable and relaxed position so asnot to induce cramping of the hands and fingers.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of thischaracter in which the parts may easily be adjusted and interchangedinto a plurality of arrangements so as to promote selectivity, stretchand flexibility between the several fingers and the joints between saidfingers and the hand generally.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of thischaracter which tends to produce a separation of the metacarpal jointsand not merely a stretching of the webs between said fingers. V

Further and. other features of my invention and the modeof operationthereof are herein- 2 after described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a section taken on a line |l in Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of said appliance with one of the fingerglides shown spaced more widely apart than the remainder; Fig. 3 is aView of said appliance showing the manner in which the users hand may beplaced thereon with the palm supported by its appropriate support andwith the fingers arranged in the finger glides;

Fig. 4 is a section similar to Fig. 1 with the palm support and thefinger glides shown in extended position, said section being taken onthe line 44 in Fig. 5;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 with the parts of said applianceshown extended; and

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the manner in which the usershand is arranged when said appliance is used to spread the forefingerand the middle finger more widely apart than the remainder.

An appliance embodying my invention comprises a base i which has a fiattop la. Said top is preferably quite smooth and polished because it isupon said top surface that the palm and finger supporting members are monted. Said base preferably is frusto-triangular in elevation. The palmsupporting member 2 is arranged adjacent the portion of the base oflesser width and the trough-like finger supporting glides 3 divergetoward the broader portion of said base. A shouldered abutment 4 extendsupwardly from the fiat top of said base and engages the heel of the palmsupporting member 2. Projecting downwardly from said base are a pair ofpeas 5 which are adapted to engage the edge of a table 6 or othersupport. This prevents relative movement between said base and saidtable or support.

Joining the base and palm supporting member 2 is a looped elastic memberI. This is joined to pins 8 secured in said base and hooks 9 secured inthe undersurface of said palm supporting member 2 in the manner shown inFig. 4. I preferably pass said elastic member through eyes l0 so as tokeep the courses of said looped elastic member separated widely. Thispermits the palm supporting member ID to be drawn back to its initialposition andv centered with respect to the shouldered abutment 4. I

It is to be noted that the forward edge I! of the palm supporting member2 is formed upon a curve and thus the abuttingends of the finger glidesmay bear against said edge and slide relalid s, 3.

tively thereon so as to accommodate the finger glides in the position ofthe fingers when they are stretched in the manner shown in Fig. 6.Projecting upwardly from the fiat top of the base I are a plurality ofpins I2 which are spaced upon a circular course adjacent the near orwide edge H of the appliance as it is viewed in Figs. 1, 2, 4, and 5.The spacing of said pins is greater than that of the inner ends of thefinger glides abutting the palm supporting member 2. Thus, when saidpalm supporting member and the finger glides are pushed outwardly, as isshown in Figs. and 6, the outer ends of said glides which lie betweenthe pins [2 are spaced apart a greater distance. This causes the fingersof the user to to be separated more distantly, as is shown in Fig. 6, toprovide the stretch and exercise for which said appliance is designed.

Elastic members l3 join the palm supporting member 2 and the fingerglides 3, as is shown in Figs. 1 and 4. Said elastic members are carriedby hooks I l projecting downwardly from the palm supporting member 2 andhooks I ia projecting downwardly from the outer or more distant ends,respectively, of the finger glides 3. Said elastic members alsopreferably pass through eyes l5 arranged at the end of said fingerglides 3 adjacent the palm supporting member} so as to keep said elasticmembers arranged longitudinally of the finger glides 3. As is noted inthe drawings, said elastic members 1 and is preferably are somewhatelongated to promote uniformity-in resistance throughout the entireoperating stroke of the members 2 and 3. That is, said elastic membersare not of such limited elongation that theypromote increased tensionasthe members are moved by the pressure of the hand from thep'ositionthey occupy in -F i gs. 1 to 3, inclusive, to that in which theyoccupyin Figs. 4 to 6, inclusive.

I preferably provide more Ways between the pins [2 than there are fingerglides 3. This permits said finger glidesto be moved selectively betweenmorethan onepf said pairs of said pins so that 'stretch may be directedbetween any two of the fingers to a greater degree than between theremainder. V

My exercising appliance may be used as follows: i V The base of saidappliance is arranged fiatwise upon a table with the bottom supported bysaid tabletop and with the pegs 5 engaging one edge thereof. One o thehands is then arranged so thatthe palm thereof rests uponthe supportingmember 2 and the fingers are arranged in the It is to be noted that saidglides are quite'long so as to accommodate the entire length of thefinger. I find that greater efiiciency is attained when the fingers arearranged fiatwise in said glides 3 but in some exercises for musicians,for example, the fingers are arranged in chord playing position. Exceptwhen the fingers are arranged in chord playing position the palm restsupon the member 2 which supports the weight thereof. Thus, the'fingersmay be relaxed to minimize tension during the stretching operation. Thenthe palm supporting member is forced away from the shouldered abutmentwhich will also push the finger glides 3 therewith, until the limit ofstretch is attained. This may be done 'by pushing the palm supportingmember 2 with the hand to be stretched. In some cases it is desirable tomerely relax thehand and support it uponsaidrnember 2 and to push the'hand'tobe'exercised bythe other hand, grasping the hand to be exercisedby'the back and exerting all of the pushing force with the non-exercisedhand. It is to be noted that the member 2 is only resiliently secured tothe base and, thus, when the fingers are being stretched the member 2may be waggled to and fro sideways to increase the stretch between thefingers and particularly through the metacarpal joints thereof. It isdesirable that said stretching of the fingers be accomplished by anumberof easy strokes, each of which is extended only tothe point that stretchis accomplished. Uncomfortable tension is, thus, avoided. This promotesincreased spread and flexibility without promoting undue strain in thejoints of the hand and fingers thereof.

Because of the fact that the finger glides 3 and the palm supportingmember 2 move away from the shouldered abutment 4, the latter may beusedas a support about which the thumb may be hooked if it is desired topromote stretching between the thumb and the fingers. This may beaccomplished in the 's'a'n'ie way by supporting the palm upon themember: and pushing it away from said shouldered abutment over which thethumb is hooked. Thus, simultaneously stretch is promoted between thethumb and That is, the forward end created or t e glides t isunconnected with thebase m ule may be lifted wardl a d. we a i ter e n et cause a y. 2 .9? e. were t i s ie diea to promote stretch between saidskipped Way's. 'b ui id $166 .1 may ea ly b d sengaged fromtheir'elastic'niembers l3 merely by unhooking the elas'ti-c member froma hook [4, any of said glides-3 may be removed from the palm supportingm'ember 2 to promote greater or less stretch between anyof the fingersand disengagement of the remaining iingers with a s hu :rmo ne eii qnera fin e guides t a was Joe y. e. ma a n ne. stretch maybe providedbetween the thumb and the fingers fin specialized exercises, 'Also'anyone sa li e 1 may be d h de i m ve promoting stretch between any'of thefingers or h hum ian any a e-fi rs. i

lidost of the exercises for producing stretch may be accomplished withthe "palm of 'the ha nd resting upon the surface oi the member 2. Saiddevice may also be usedwiththeback'of the hand bearing upon the u persurface of theimemb'er '2. "About one or more of the finger glides 3, 'Iarrange an endless member I6, such for example, as a rubber band andplace thereon a'rlng l1. Said ring may be engaged by the tip'of'a'finger to be used in flexing exercises to promote the muscle tone ofthe individual fingers. I have found that if said, ring is 'given'abright color it aids in concentrating when said ring is liftedormanipulated byxoneioi the'tfingers. Said ring may be shifted from oneend of the lide 3.,to the other if desired and'may be pulledlongitudinally thereof or laterally as in lifting exercises. The thumbmay griponeoi the marginal edges o e p m ug e iin m mber? i a et hiexercise or may grip the marginal edge of the base or, as has been,ointedout, may he arranged in oneioijthe is He's '3 with l equal"facility 5 depending upon the exercise to be 'iirac'ticed.

Although I have described the structure and function of the variousparts of my appliance in detail, it is to be'understood that these arecited merely by way of example and other and further uses and exercises:may be afforded to meet specific and individual-needs.

I claim: r

1. An exercising appliance for the hands and fingers comprising a base,a member for supporting the palm of the hand-and a plurality ofdiverging finger glides, said palm supporting member and finger glidesbeing slidably mounted upon said base and said finger glides beingjoined to the palm supporting member by resilient retracting elements.

2. An .exercising appliance for the hands and fingers comprising a base,a member for supporting the palm of the hand and a plurality ofdiverging finger glides, said palm supporting member and finger glidesbeing slidably mounted upon said base, and said finger glides beingjoined to the palm supporting member by flexible resilient retractingelements.

3. An exercising appliance for the hands and fingers comprising a base,a member for supporting the palm of the hand and a plurality ofdiverging finger glides, said palm supporting member and finger glidesbeing slidably mounted upon said base and said finger glides beingjoined to the palm supporting member and the latter to the base byflexible resilient retracting elements.

4. An exercising appliance for the hands and fingers comprising a basehaving a downwardly projecting abutment for engaging a support, a memberfor supporting the palm of the hand and a plurality of diverging fingerglides, said palm supporting member and finger glides being slidablymounted upon said base, and said finger glides being joined to the palmsupporting member by resilient retracting elements.

5. An exercising appliance for the hands and fingers comprising a base,a, member for supporting the palm of the hand and a plurality ofdiverging trough-like finger glides, said palm supporting member andfinger glides being slidably mounted upon said base, and said fingerglides bein joined to the palm supporting member by resilient retractingelements.

6. An exercising appliance for the hands and fingers comprising a base,a member for supporting the palm of the hand and a plurality ofdiverging finger glides, said palm supporting member and finger glidesbeing slidably mounted upon said base, said finger glides being joinedto the palm supporting member and the latter to the base by flexibleresilient retracting elements, and the edge of said palm supportingmember adjacent the finger glides being curved, said retracting elementstending to hold the finger glides in abutment therewith.

7. An exercising appliance for the hands and fingers comprising a base,a member for supporting the palm of the hand and a plurality ofdiverging finger glides, said palm supporting member and finger glidesbeing slidably mounted upon said base, said finger glides being joinedto the palm supporting member and the latter to the base by flexibleresilient retracting elements, and the edge of said palm supportingmember adjacent the finger glides being curved upon a circular sweep,said retracting elements tending to hold the finger glides in abutmenttherewith.

8. An exercising appliance for the hands and fingers comprising a base,a member for supporting the palm of the hand and a plurality ofdiverging finger glides, said palm supporting member and finger glidesbeing slidably mounted upon said base, said finger glides being joinedto the palm supporting member by resilient retracting elements, and aplurality of guide elements adapted for selective engagement by saidfinger glides at points spaced from said palm supporting member, saidguide elements beingpositioned and arranged to define the path of travelof said finger lides.

9. An exercising appliance for the hands and fingers comprising a base,a member for supporting the palm of the hand and a plurality ofdiverging finger glides, said palm supporting member and finger glidesbeing slidably mounted upon said base, said finger glides being joinedto the palm supporting member by resilient retracting elements, and aplurality of guide pins adapted for selective engagement by said fingerglides at points spaced from said palm supporting member, said guidepins being positioned and arranged to define the path of travel of saidfinger glides.

10. An exercising appliance for the hands and fingers comprising a base,a member for supporting the palm of the hand and a plurality ofdiverging finger glides, said palm supporting member and finger glidesbeing slidably mounted upon said base, said finger glides being joinedto the palm supporting member by resilient retracting elements, aplurality of guide elements adapted for selective engagement by saidfinger glides at points spaced from said palm supporting member, saidguide elements being positioned and arranged to define the path oftravel of said finger glides, said guide elements being spaced apartgreater distances than the points of joinder of said finger glides withthe palm supporting member, whereby when said palm supporting member andtherewith the finger glides are slid upon the base, said finger glidesare caused to separate progressively at increasing divergent angles.

11. An exercising appliance for the hands and fingers comprising a base,a member for supporting the palm of the hand and a plurality ofdiverging finger glides, said palm supporting member and finger glidesbeing slidably mounted upon said base, said finger glides being joinedto the palm supporting member and the latter to the base by flexibleresilient retracting elements, a plurality of guide elements adapted forselective engagement by said finger glides at points spaced from saidpalm supportin member, said guide elements being positioned and arrangedto define the path of travel of said finger glides, said guide elementsbeing spaced apart greater distances that the points of joinder of saidfinger glides with the palm supporting member, whereby when said palmsupporting member and therewith the finger glides are slid upon thebase, said finger glides are caused to separate progressively atincreasing divergent angles, and the flexibility of the connectionsbetween the finger glides and palm supporting members accommodatingdifferential spreading and stretching of the several fingers.

12. An exercising appliance for the hands and fingers comprising a base,a member for supporting the palm of the hand and a plurality ofdiverging finger glides, said palm supporting member and finger glidesbeing slidably mounted upon said base, said finger glides being joinedto the palm supporting member and the latter to the base by fiexibleresilient retracting elements and means for fixing the initial positionof said palm supporting member and therewith the fin er lide '13. Anexercising appliance for the hands and fingers comprising a base, amember for supporting the p m f the hand an a plurality of; divergingfinger glides, said palm supporting memer an fi er glides being slidablymounted upo said base said finger glides being joined to the saidbase,--said ting'erglides being joined to the palm supporting member andthe latter to the base by'fiexible resilient retracting elements, andsaid palm supporting member being free of guides updn said base topermit said palm supporting member to move freely andindep'endently ofthe paths of travel of said finger glides.

REX UNDERWOOD.

aEFEizaNc'Es CITED :The follewin'g references are of record in the mao'f patent:

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